Chaser Guns

A chaser gun was mounted on both the bow and stern of most ships. Depending on the ship, two to four mostly light guns were usually mounted on deck. They were used to slow down an enemy ship that was either pursuing or being pursued when the broadside of the ship could not be brought to bear. Chasers were used to try to damage the rigging and thereby weaken the target.

Vétéran escaping into the shallow waters of Concarneau harbour, by Michel Bouquet (1807-1890) Here you can see how she fires her stern chasers (x)

Early chasers of the 16th and 17th century brought up from the gundeck and aimed through specially cut-out ports on either side of the bowsprit, or dedicated weapons made with an unusually long bore and a relatively light ball, and mounted in the bow. Stern chasers could also be improvised, or left permanently in the cabins at the stern, covered up and used as part of the furniture.

From the 18th century onwards the chasers were light 9.pdr guns mounted on the maindeck.